Method and apparatus for feeding and printing paper



A ril 10, 1951 F. R. BARTHOLOMEW 2,543,231

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND PRINTING PAPER Filed Sept. 19, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 151 m6 FIE 1 ,6;

y INVEN] 0R.

FRED R Bum a4 OMEN Arron/Er April 10, 1951 F. RLBARTHOLOMEW 2,548,281

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND PRINTING PAPER Filed Sept. 19, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE' ma. v I /6a.

- INVENTOR. FRED RBARn/m am-W lrronmey METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND PRINTING PAPER Filed Sept. 19, 1946 April 10, 1951 F. R. BARTHOLOMEW 4 Sheets -Sheet s [raw/era $02 AZ Zarney April 10, 19511 F. R. BARTHOLOMEW METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND PRINTING PAPER Filed Se t, 19, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 10, 1951 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND PRINTING PAPER Fred R. Bartholomew, Minneapolis, Minn. Application September 19, 1946, Serial No. 697,846

This invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for dampening paper as it is fed into duplicating or printing machines. This method and apparatus may be used to feed paper into difierent types of printing and duplicating machines but it is particularly adapted to feeding paper into those duplicating machines that require the paper be dampened as it is fed into the duplicating machine.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simple and eflicient method and apparatus that feeds paper into a duplicating or printing machine and at the same time dampens the paper, when required, as it is fed into the duplicating machine.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a simple and eflicient method and apparatus for printing or duplicating in which a continuous length of a pliable lithographic plate, or a stencil, or other flexible means with the image thereon in reverse is used and into contact with which the paper or other material to be printed on is brought.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus in which a continuous flexible member having separated ends is used, the same having the image to be printed thereon in reverse and into contact with which paper which has been dampened is brought for printing.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus comprising the .use of printing members, an endless gelatin film adjacent said printing members, and means for moistening said film, said film being arranged to contact, feed and moisten paper to be passed between said printing members.

It is further an object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus comprising the use of printing members and a continuous flexible sheet of material having the image thereon in reverse in hectograph ink, one end of which sheet is passed between said printing members into contact therewith and which is then drawn between said printing members, a dampened sheet of paper being placed between said sheet and said printing members for printing.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus such as set forth in the preceding paragraph in which a roller is provided on which said sheet is wound as it is drawn between said printing members, said sheet preferably being unwound from another roller before passing between said printing members.

9 Claims. (Cl. 101--132.5).

2 These and other objects and advantages of th invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an ap paratus used for carrying out the method of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation as seen from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a modification showing a flat bed press and a continuous mastercopy in belt form;

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section showing a modification; s

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through a further modified form of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a view partly in vertical section andpartly in side elevation showing the invention shown in Fig. 6 equipped with a flat platen and flat cooperating members;

Fig. 8 is a view in vertical section of a further modification; and

Fig. 9 is a view in vertical section of another modification.

The feeding method used in this invention is produced by bringing the surface of a rotating gelatin belt into contact with a sheet of paper in the paper tray. The paper adheres to the gelatin and is carried to the printing members of the duplicating machine. The gelatin contacts the paper on a line across the gelatin belt where said belt changes from acylindrical to a rectilinear surface and at an angle which leaves the forward part of the paper free from contact with the gelatin and therefore free to enter between the printing members and to be gripped by them and thereby stripped from the gelatin. As the paper is carried along the flat surface of the gelatin it remains in alignment and is dampened by its continued contact with the moistened gelatin. The small cylinder on which the gelatin belt rotates may be placed in close proximity to the two printing members at their point of contact, thus enabling the paper to be stripped from the gelatin, which result could not be obtained if the gelatin revolved on one large cylinder that could not be placed in close proximity to the printing members on account of its size. In describing the invention the following terminology may be noted which will be used. The liquid process" is the method of 3 making duplicate copies directly from a master copy bearing a reversed image in hectograph duplicating ink,the duplicate copies being made by bringing a dampened portion of paper or cardboard into contact with said reversed image under pressure.

A liquid hectograph mastercopy is a sheet of paper orv other suitable material having thereon a reversed image in hectograph duplicating ink that will be printed onto a dampened paper or cardboard when said paper or cardboard is brought into contact with the image on said mastercopy.

A continuous liquid hectograph mastercopy is a liquid hectograph mastercopy that is, not limited in length by the lengthofthe circumferhce of either printing member or by any condition except What would be impracticable in use. Another form of a' continuous liquid hectograph mastercopy is a liquid hectograph mastercopy in belt form passing around two or more cylinders.

Printing members or a printing couple are those portions of the printing equipment that contact the mastercopy and the paper and force them together under pressure in order to obtain the printed copy. Such printing members or a printing couple may be cylinders or platens, or a fiat surfaced member cooperating with a cylinder or flat surfaced members operating one against the other without rotating cylinder action.

A printing medium is a flexible sheet of material carrying thereon an image in reverse that may be printed onto cardboard or paper when the latter is brought into contact therewith.

A gelatin film is a pliable backing sheet with a covering of gelatin composition. This gelatin composition remains damp and has adhesive quality and absorbs further moisture readily.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs.

"1 to 3, an apparatus is shown somewhat diagrammatically comprising a-frame ID. This frame has standards lea at either side thereof between which is disposed a cylinder ll. Cylinder II is mounted for rotation on trunnions Ha having bearings in frame members or standards lfia. A

platen roller i2 is shown journaled between side members of frame 50 on trunnions 12a. A-bar Hlb projects at opposite sides of each standard led and rollers l3 and M are journaled between the end portions of members lllb on shafts or trunnions i3a and Ma respectively which will have bearings in members lflb. A crank i5 is shown connected to shaft [3a whilea crank i6 is shown connected to shaft I402. Cranks l5 and it have handle portions 15a and liia of the usual construction attached thereto. Standards 100 project upward at the forward end of frame l0 between which is supported a water reservoir I1. Reservoir I! has a filling pipe Ila closed by a stopper l'ib. A wick I8 is secured in reservoir H, the same having a portion disposed within said reservoir and having a portion extending therebelow. Wick l8 will extend across the ma- 1 chine for the full length of the roller l2 and cylinder I I. A roller 20 is mounted between the sides of frame In on a shaft 2| journaled in said frame passes around thelower part .of cylinder II, the i same being shown ascarried on the roll la andi;

as being wound on the roll l4 after passing in 4 contact with cylinder H Another continuous sheet of material 26 such as paper is shown passing between the sheet 25 and platen roller [2, sheet 26 being carried on and unwound from roll 28 and being wound onto roll 22 after passing roller H. The sheet 25 is in the liquid hectograph master copy and the sheet 26 is the sheet or paper upon which the printing is to be done.

Before describing the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3, it may be stated that in the usual construction of apparatus using the liquid process a cylinder and platen revolving with the cylinder quite similar to cylinder II and plateni2 are used. The liquid master copy is placed around the cylinder in contact therewith, the same being attached to the cylinder. The cylinder revolves and the master copy revolves with the cylinder. The paper to be printed is dampened just before it is fed between the cylinder and the platen. In passing between the cylinder with the master copy thereon and the platen it comes in contact with the hectograph ink on the master copy under considerable pressure. The moisture on the paper dissolves a suificient amount of the hectograph ink on the master copy so that the printing operation is performed and a copy is made. With proper adjustment from 300 to 508 copies may be made in this manner from one master copy. The liquid used in dampening the paper is ordinarily of such a chemical nature that it will evaporate very quickly and for this reason this method of duplicating is sometimes called the spirit process. The liquid master copy may be used to make a small number of copies andmay then be filed away and later used to make further copies. Short runs may thus be made and these continued until the maximum of from 300 to 500 copies have been made. These copies may be made with considerable time intervening between the different times of imprinting.

In the operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the liquid master copy will be prepared as has been above indicated and this will be carried on roll I3 and be rolled up thereon. The paper to be printed will be on roll 20; The master copy will be passed under roll H and will be secured to roll it. The end of the paper to be printed will be carried over roll l2 and between the same and the master copy 25 and will then be connected to roll 22. Roll I4 is then rotated by any suitable means such as the crank handle I6 and roll 22 will berotated in any suitable manner. A driving connection could be used between rolls l4 and 22 and would preferably be of a type having some slippin motion or lost motion as the frictionally engaging rims [4c and 220 so that the tension would not become too great on either the master copy 25 or the paper 26. As the master copy and paper 26 move together between rolls ii and i2 the impression will be made on paper 25 so that the matter is printed on paper 26. Wick (8 will be saturated with the desired liquid and will transfer sufiicient moisture to paper 26 so that a good impression is obtained.

When the entire master copy has been printed it will have been rolled up on roll [4 and the printed paper will be on roll 22. These can then be removed from the rolls and the roll hi can be interchanged with roll l3 and the printing operation could be repeated with a new roll of paper on roll 20.

In Fig.4 a modification is shown in which frame H) is used and on which are mountedthe rollers 13 and M as well as rollers 20 and 22 as awe-ear shown in Fig. 1. In place of the cylinder 1! the frame is arranged with a fiat bedsurface '21. Below the surface 21 is arranged a printing member or printing means 28 having a flat top surface and adapted to press a sheet against the surface 21. Member 28 is connected to one end of a lever 29 shown as oscillatable about a pivot 29a and having a handle portion 291). While it is obvious that member 28 could be reciprocated in various ways the structure shown is a simple embodiment of one form which could be used. The structure shown in Fig. 4 also includes the liquid tank I? and parts as shown in Fig. 1. The master copy 25cc is in belt form and extends around the rollers I3 and I4 and around and in engagement with the surface 27 as shown. The paper to be printed is carried on the roller 28.

In the operation of the device shown in Fig. 4 the continuous master copy 25 passes across the fiat bed surface 21 as the master copy unwinds from roller i3. At the same time the dampened paper 26 passes across the fiat bed surface 21 as this dampened paper unwinds from roller 20. When the image on the master copy that is to be imprinted is properly located so that it will contact the dampened paper the movement of the master copy andthe dampened paper is stopped momentarily and the fiat imprinting means 28 forces the master copy and the dampened paper together under pressure and the imprint is made on the paper. There are numerous methods that may be used to force the imprinting means 28 toward the flat bedsurface 2'! and to regulate the pressure placed on the master copy and the dampened paper as they are forced together. One method i shown in Fig. 4.

After one imprint is made as described, the pressure of master copy against dampened paper is released and the master copy and the paper are moved forward until another image is in position to be imprinted on the dampened paper and then the operation is repeated in the same manner a described.

Different combinations of imprinting means may be used under this method of imprinting from a continuous liquid master copy onto a dampened paper. A very practical combination would be to use a cylinder rotatin under pressure against a fiat bed surface. This patent specification is not limited to any specific combination of imprinting means.

An advantage of using a master copy in belt form on the rollers, as shown in Fig. 4, is that in this form the master copy does not need to be .changed from the receiving roller to the first roller when one complete. copy has been made. For this reason the belt form of printing memher can be used when the length of copy to be I with another gear 18 secured to another cylin-.

drical roller 19 having its axis some distance above and at one side of the axis of roller I8. A printing member 86 which will be wound on roller 79 is shown and the same will pass from roller 19 downwardly around a smaller roll 8| and then to roller 16 on which it will be wound.

.rollers.

6 Roll 8| has a gear 82 secured to one end thereof meshing with another gear 83 secured to one end of a platen roll 84 disposed beneath roll 8|. Platen roll 84 in some cases will have a fiat portion 84a at one side thereof. At one side of the roll 8| is quite a small roll 86. Roll 86 may be carried on a shaft which will be journaled in'bearings in the end plates 98. A much larger roller 8! is mounted at on side of roll 86. It may be stated that. the rollers 16 and 19 will be carried on shafts 88 and 89 respectively which will be mounted in bearings in a frame oomprisingend plates 96, one of which only is shown. Roller 81 will also be carried on a shaft 9| which will be journaled at its ends in the end plates 90. An endless gelatin film 92 extends about the periphcries of rolls 86 and 81. Roll 81 will be rotated by a belt 93 which will run over a pulley formed at one end of roll 8| and over a similar pulley formed at one end of roll 87. A paper-supporting means which may comprise a container having a bottom plate 94 is provided beneath roll 8'! on which is supported a plurality of superposed sheets of paper 95. The endless gelatin film 92 is disposed so that it will travel on rollers 86 and 81 in the rotation of the latter and engage the top sheet of the paper 95. A moistening device 91 is provided and this will be disposed above the top run of film 92. This may comprise a liquidcontaining receptacle from which projects a brush 9M in engagement with film 92. To keep the sheets of paper 95 in proper relation to the film 92, the paper-supporting means 94 will be constructed and arranged for vertical movement and will be moved upwardly by a weight 99 to which is secured a cable I00 running over pulleys |6| and having its other end attached by an eye bolt I02 to the support 94. Pulleys H can conveniently be supported on shafts I83 journaled in bearings in the frame 98. With some type of printing and when printing is to be done on a continuou sheet, roller 84 may be cylindrical. When however a separate sheet of paper is to be printed, if roller 84 were cylindrical there could be no open space between the rollers into which the forward end of the separate sheet of paper could pass before being gripped by the 8401. on roller 84, the rollers 8| and 84 will be out of contact for a portion of a revolution, thus formin an open space therebetween. Then the separate sheet of paper to be printed can be inserted by the feeding operation through this open space the desired distance and the rollers when they again contact one with the other will then get a firm grip on the paper. The separate sheet of paper will be engaged by the rollers when fiat portion 84a passes roller 8| and the separate sheet of paper will then be moved by the rollers as well as by the moving gelatin film and the printing done thereon. The separate sheet of paper will then be discharged after passing between the printing member and roller 84.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5, the printing member 88 will be rolled up on roll 19 with one end thereof secured to roll 16. One of the shafts 88 or 89 will be rotated either by power or by a crank, such as shown in'Figs. 1 and 4 and rolls 16 and 19 will move in a counterclockwise direction. The printing member will thus be wound on roll 16 and will unwind from roll 19 and will pass under the smaller roll 8|. If shaft 89 is driven, roll 19'will be driven by roll I6 through the gears H and 18. The printing member will rotate roll 8| and this will,

By providing the fiat surface such as 7 through'the gears 82-, and 83, rotate platenroll 84; Rotation of roll'8I will, through belt 93, rotate roll 81. The rotation of roll 81 will cause the film 92 to travel around rolls 85 and 81. The outerside of film 92 will be moistened and as said film moves about roll81 it will engage the top sheet of paper 95 and said sheet will adhere thereto. The top sheet will be moved with the film 92 and will be moved between platen roll 84 and the printing member 80. The paper will be moistened by its contact with film 92 and the paper will thus be printed as it passes beneath printing member 86: and between the rolls SI and 84. As the paper moves between the member 80 and roll 84 it will be stripped or disengaged from the film 92. It will be noted that the sheet of paper is engaged by film 92 at some distance from its front edge. There will be some overlapping of the sheets of paper, as shown in Fig. 5. This will not be objectionable however as a sheet of paper is never printed very close to the top, which top often contains a heading, such as the name of a firm, etc. Alternately shaft SI could be driven and this would rotate roll 8| through the belt 53 and roll 8| would rotate the member 80 which in turn would rotate roll 19 and roll 16 would then be driven by gears 18 and 11. As the sheets of paper 95 are removed, the support 94 is moved upwardly by weight 99 so that the paper is kept in proper contact with the film 92. The sheets of paper are thus successively and automatically moved and printed. In Fig. 6 a roll I04 is shown, similar to rolls and 11. Roll I64 is carried on a shaft I09 which will be journaled in bearings in end plates III, only one of which is shown. A printing member I I2 is wound on roll I04 and as the printing progresses it is unwound from roll I04 and after being printed passes over a small roller I05 carried on a shaft I03 journaled in bearings in end plates I I I. A smaller roll I I4 is carried on a shaft H5 journaled in end plates III and said roll II4 has a gear I I6 secured at one end thereof. A gear IIB meshes with a gear III secured to one end of a platen roll I I3 carried on a shaft II9 which will be journaled in bearings in end plates III. Quite a small roller I is disposed at one side of roller I I4 which may be carried on a shaft I2I which will also be journaled in bearings in the end plates III. A larger roller I23 is carried on a shaft I24 which will be journaled in hearings in the end plates I I I. Roller I23 will be formed as a pulley at one end and a belt I25 runs over said pulley and over a pulley formed at one end of roller I20. An endless gelatin film I26 runs over rollers I23 and I29. A crank I28, indicated partly in dotted lines, may be secured to one end of shaft I24. A roll I29 is carried on a shaft I30 which may be journaled in bearings I3I movable vertically in slots IIa in end plates III. A sheet or strip I32 of paper to be printed will be wound on roll I29 and this paper will pass around the outer surface of film I26 as it passes around and beneath roller I23. A moistening device I34 is provided which will preferably be disposed above the upper run of film I25. Said device may comprise a liquid container from which projects a brush or other absorbent member I34a having contact with film I26.

In operation the shaft I24 may be driven as by the'crank I28 and this will cause the gelatin film I26 to travel about rolls I23 and I20 as said rolls rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. The paper I32 will adhere to a certain extent to film I26 and the same will bemoved by said film and directed between mastercopy I I2 and platen roll H8. The printing member I I2 will of course carry the matter to be printed and this will be printed on. the paper I32 which has been dampened by its engagement with the moistened surface of film I26. With the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, a continuous sheet can thus be printed. With the form shown in Fig. 6, a continuous sheet of paper can thus be moved and moistened by the film I26.

In Fig. 7 a modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is shown. A platen I35 is used having a flat top surface over which the paper I33 will pass as it is fed by the endless film I26- Film I26 is provided with a moistening device comprising a liquid container I34 and a brush I34a, as shown in Fig. 6. The mastercopy or printing member 80a will pass from a roll similar to roll 19 which will be disposed above and at one side of platen member I35. Platen member I35 has a downwardly extending portion I35a having therein a slot I35b through which passes a pin I36 secured adjacent one end of a lever I31 fulcrumed on a shaft I38. Lever I31 is provided with a handle portion I31a. A member I39 is disposed above member I35 and has a lower flat surface cooperating with the top surface of member I35 in the printing operation.

in operation the paper or sheet I33 to be printed will be fed from a suitable roll, such as roll I3I in Fig. 6, and will pass around under the film I25 and be moved by it over member I35. The printing member 80a will be unrolled from a roll, such as roll 19 and will pass under member I39 and be rolled up on a roller, such as roller 16 shown in Fig. 5. Platen I35 will be reciprocated at intervals and sheet I33 will thus be printed. It will be understood that members I I2 and I33 will be intermittently progressed. While platen I35 could be reciprocated by any suitable means, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it will be raised by the operator pressing down on handle I31a.

Referring to Fig. 8, a side frame I40 of a machine is shown and there will be two of these in laterally spaced relation. A cylinder or roll MI is carried on a shaft I42 which will be journaled at its ends in suitable bearings in the side frames I40. Cylinder I4I will have a printing member I43 engaging the periphery thereof which may be a liquid hectograph mastercopy. A platen roll I45 is disposed below roll MI and will be carried on a shaft I46 having its ends journaled in suitable bearings in the side plates I40. A small roller I41 is disposed at one side of rollers MI and I45 and substantially opposite the space therebetween, which roll I41 wil1 be carried on a shaft I48 having its ends journaled in bearings in side plates I40. A larger roll I49 is provided which may be carried on a shaft I56 also having its ends journaled in suitable bearings in side plates or frames I40. An endless gelatin film I5I extends about the rolls I41 and I49. A moistening device I52 is provided which may comprise a container for liquid and a brush I53 projects from one end of member I52 and will be disposed in contact with film I5I. A carrier or container I55 adapted to carry superposed sheets of paper I55 is disposed beneath film I5I and th uppermost sheet will be in contact with the lower side of film I5I. Carrier I55 will be arranged to be moved upwardly and it will be moved upwardly automatically by a weight I55 carried by a cable or flexible member I51 running over suitable pulleys I58 which will be mounted on shafts I59 suitably supported from side plates I48. Cable I51 will be connected to carrier I55 in any suitable manner, as by having its end secured to an eye bolt I60 secured in carrier I55. A pulley I62 will be secured at one end of shaft I42 and a crank I63 may be secured to the outer end of shaft I42 at the outer side of one of the side plates I49. A pulley I65 will be secured to one end of shaft I58 and a suitable belt I64 will pass over pulleys I82 and I85.

In operation the paper will be supplied to .car-

rier I55, as shown, and the operator will turn crank I63. This will rotate cylinder I9I and the printing member I43. Roll I49 will be rotated through belt I64 so that the gelatin film II will be caused to travel about rollers I41 and I59. Roll or cylinder I4I will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 8. The upper sheet of paper I56 will be engaged by the gelatin film I5! and will be moved with said film so that its free end will pass between printing member I43 and platen roll I45 and will thus be printed. The sheets of paper will pass to the right of platen roll I45 and may be received on any suitable support. A film I5I will be moistened by brush I53 to which liquid will be supplied from member I52. The paper will be moistened by its contact with film I5I and the paper will thus be printed as it passes beneath printing member I43. As already described in connection with Fig. 5 the sheet of paper will be engaged by film I5I at some distance from its front dge. The sheets of paper will thus overlap somewhat as they pass between rolls I4! and I 45. The sheets of paper on carrier I55 will be moved upward by Weight I56 so that the top sheet will always engage film I 5I. The sheets of paper are thus successively automatically moved and printed.

It will be apparent that the sheets of paper I56 could be carried in a superposed relation or in a stack, as shown, and be disposed above film I5I so that said film would engage the lowermost sheet and move it between the printing members.

With such an arrangement the sheets would move down by gravity and the lowermost sheet would be kept in proper contact and proper relation with film I5] or with film 92, as shown in Fig. 8. With such an arrangement any paper-lifting device, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8, would not be necessary.

In Fig. 9 a slightly different form of the invention is shown, the structure comprising side plates I19, in which are journaled theends of shafts I1I, I12 and I13. Rollers I14, I15 and I16 are carried respectively on shafts I1I, I12 and I13, and an endless printing member I18, which may be a liquid hectograph mastercopy, runs over the peripheries of said rollers. A platen member I19, shown as in the form of a roller, is disposed below roller I16 and carried on a shaft I89 having A crank I88 is secured to the end of one of the shafts I'II, I12 or I13, preferably shaft III as ,shown, and a pulley I89 is secured to shaft I'II 10 at one side of printing member I 18. A pulley I99 is secured adjacent one end of shaft I83 and a belt I92 runs over pulleys I89 and I98. A roller I93 is carried on a shaft I94 having its ends jour and described, the operator will rotate crank I98 and this will rotate roll I14. Said crank will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 9, and printing member I18 will be moved around rollers I14, I15 and I16. Roller I84 will be driven through belt I92 and pulleys I89 and I99 at substantially the same peripheral speed as the printing member I18. The paper I96 will be unwound from roll I93 and will pass around .film. I and between printing member I18 and platen I19 and will thus be printed. Said paper will be fed by the friction thereof on film I85. Film I85 will be moistened by brush I81 and the paper will thus be' moistened so that it can be printed by member I18. As the paper is unwound from roll I93, said roll will move downward, the bearing I sliding down in guideways mm. A printing member in belt formis thus used to print a continuous sheet of paper.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple and highly efficient printing mechanism and one which will have a high degree of utility in practical use. Where a continuous printing member is used, as in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, a long list of numbers, data, addresses or other information can be carried .to be printed on the printed sheet. This arrangem'ent will have a high degree of utility in printing payrolls, menus and similar lists, as well as addressing articles to be mailed. In the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9, a printing member of smaller extent is used and the information there on can be repeated on the individual sheets or on an endless sheet. The gelatin film is used to feed and move the paper to the printing couple and this film is also utilized for moistening the paper when a hectograph mastercopy is used. As shown, the gelatin film can feed individual sheets of paper or it can feed a continuous length of paper. As shown and described, the individual sheets of paper are automatically moved into proper contact with the gelatin film. The device has been amply tested in actual practice and found to be very successful, and eflicient. The term endless used herein and in appended claims as applied to the master copy and to the continuous sheet on which the matter is printed should be understood as meaning that said members may in a literal sense be in continuous form without connected ends or that it may consist of a strip of material having its ends joined or connected.

This application is a continuation in part of applicants co-pending application, S. N. 517,545, filed J anuary8, 1944, on Method and Apparatus for Printing which has become abandoned sub sequent to the filing of this application.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details,

arrangement and proportions of the apparatus and in the steps and sequence of steps of the method without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated,

arisen consists in a method and apparatus capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, such as disclosedanddefined in the appended claims.

What .is claimed is: a

1. A duplicating apparatus having in combination, a frame, a rotary cylinder and platen cooperating under pressure of one toward the other as a printing couple, a printing medium on .said cylinder, two rollers with axes substantially parallel to the axes of said printing couple secured to said frame adjacent to said printing couple, an endless gelatin film belt on said rollers, said gelatin film consisting of the whole extent of said belt, said .belt engaging said rollers and traveling about the same continuously in the same direction, means fordampening said gelatin film for moistening and feeding paper to said printing'couple and means for rotating the said printing medium and the said gelatin film at the same peripheral speed.

.2. A duplicating apparatus having in combination, a frame, a rotary cylinder and platen cooperating under pressure of one toward the other as a printing couple, .a printing medium on said cylinder, two rollers with axes substan .tially parallel to the axes of said printing couple secured .to said frame adjacent .to said printing couple, an endless gelatin film belt on said rollers, said gelatin film consisting of the whole extent of said belt, said belt engaging said rollers and traveling about the same continuously in the same direction, means for dampening the .said gelatin film, and means for rotating the said printing medium and the said gelatin ,film at the same speed, means for supporting sheets of paper to be printed adjacent said gelatin film, whereby said gelatin film may .contact successive sheets of paper and carry them between said rotating printing medium and said platen, thereby imprinting said paper vfrom said printing medium, said printing couple -;forming means for stripping said paper from said gelatin film.

3. A printing machine having in combination, :two rotatable rollers cooperating as a printing couple, two spaced cylinders having axes substantially parallel to the axes of. said rotating rollers, an adhesive gelatin film belt traveling over and about said cylinders, said gelatin film consisting of the whole extent of said belt, said belt engaging said cylinders and traveling about the same continuously in the same direction, said belt having a planar surface of said gelatin film between said cylinders, means for continuously applying moisture to said gelatin film, means for pressing a sheet of paper against said planar surface of said adhesive gelatin film to dampen said sheet of paper as it adheres to said gelatin film, said paper being advanced by movement of said gelatin film belt, one of said cylinders being adjacent said printing couple and being of small diameter relative to the other whereby said belt makes a sharp turn around said smaller cylinder, said sheet of paper being advanced by said belt to said printing couple and said printing couple acting as a stripping means to strip said sheet of paper from said elatin film belt.

4. A printing machine having in combination, two rotatable rollers cooperating as a printing couple, two spaced cylinders having axes substantially parallel to the axes of said rotating rollers, a belt traveling over and about said cylinders in one direction-having an outer coating of hectograph gelatin composition thereon,

means for continuously applying moisture to said gelatin coating, means forpressing a sheet of paper against said moistened gelatin to dampen said sheet of paper as it adheres to said gelatin coating, means for rotating said belt continuously in a direction to feed said sheet of paper toward said printing couple, one of said cylinders being adjacent said printing couple and being of small diameter relative to the other whereby said belt makes a sharp turn around said smaller cylinder, said sheet of paper being advanced by said belt to said printing couple and said printing couple acting as a stripping means to strip said sheet of paper from said gelatin, and a continuous hectograph master copy carrying an image in hectograph ink constructed and arranged to pass between the members of said printing couple and into contact with which said dampened sheet of paper is brought by said platen, said printing couple acting simultaneously to print said sheet of paper and strip the same from said gelatin film.

5. In a machine of the class described the combination of a frame, two rotatable rollers operating as a printing couple mounted on said frame, two cylinders having axes parallel to the axes of said rotating rollers, one of said cylinders being adjacent said couple and of small diameter relative to the other, a belt having an outer surface of hectograph gelatin composition and traveling over and about said cylinders and moved thereby, means for continuously applying moisture to said gelatin composition, a supplementary cylinder mounted on said frame adjacent said cylinder with the larger diameter, said supplementary cylinder having a peripheral surface adapted to carry a continuous roll of paper, said supplementary cylinder being disposed so that said continuous roll of paper engages said gelatin composition and adheres thereto so that said paper is dampened by said moistened composition means for rotating said belt continuously in a direction to feed said paper toward said cylinder of small diameter and to said printing couple, said gelatin belt making a sharp turn around said latter cylinder, said printing couple constituting a stripping means adjacent said cylinder of smaller diameter to strip said paper from said gelatin belt.

6. In a machine of the class described the combination of a frame, two rotatable rollers operating as a printing couple mounted on said frame, two cylinders having axes parallel to the axes of said rotating rollers, one of said cylinders being adjacent said couple and of small diameter relative to the other, a belt having an outer surface of hectograph gelatin composition and traveling over said cylinders and movable therewith, means for continuously applying moisture to said gelatin composition, a supplementary cylinder mounted on said frame adjacent said cylinder with the larger diameter, said supplementary cylinder having a peripheral surface adapted to carry a continuous roll of paper, said supplementary cylinder being disposed so that said continuous roll of paper engages said gelatin composition and adheres thereto, means for rotating said belt continuously in a direction to feed said paper toward said cylinder of small diameter and to said printing couple, said gelatin belt making a sharp turn around said latter cylinder, said printing couple constituting a stripping means adjacent said cylinder of smaller diameter to strip said paper from said gelatin belt, and a continuous hectograph master copy carrying an image in hectograph ink constructed and arranged to pass between the members of said printing couple and into contact with which said dampened sheet of paper is brought by said platen, said printing couple acting simultaneously to print said sheet of paper and strip the same from said gelatin film.

7. A machine of the class described having in combination, a pair of spaced cylinders, a continuous master copy having spaced sections of images in hectograph ink thereon, said continuous master copy passing around and connecting said cylinders and movable therewith, said images on said master copy being in reverse, a pair of rollers having peripheral surfaces with axes extending substantially parallel to the axes of said cylinders respectively, a continuous length of paper engaging the peripheral surfaces of said rollers and movable with said rollers by frictional contact with said cylinders, means for dampening said continuous length of paper, a flat bed surface substantially parallel to the axes of said cylinders, a platen co-operating with said fiat bed surface, means for passing said continuous length of paper between said flat bed surface and platen, and means for pressing said paper against said sections and images by means of said fiat bed surface and platen co-operating as a printing couple.

8. A duplicating apparatus having in combination, a frame, a rotary cylinder and platen co-operating under pressure of one toward the other as a printing couple, a hectograph liquid master copy on said cylinder, two rollers with axes substantially parallel to the axis of said cylinder, one of said rollers being larger than the other, said other of said rollers being adjacent said cylinder, an endless gelatin film belt on aid rollers, said gelatin film consisting of the whole extent of said belt, said belt engaging said rollers and traveling about said rollers continuously in the same direction, said gelatin film belt having a planar surface between said rollers, means for applying moisture to said gelatin film belt, means for supporting a pile of superposed sheets of paper to be printed below said belt and larger roller so that the uppermost sheet engages said belt intermediate the ends of said sheet, the end of said sheet nearest said cylinder being out of contact with said belt, and means for rotating said gelatin film belt continuously in the same direction to move said sheet of paper toward said printing couple, and means for rotating said cylinder and hectograph liquid master copy at the same peripheral speed as said gelatin film belt whereby said belt will move successive sheets of paper and the forward end of each of said sheets will overlap the rear portion of the preceding sheet and said sheets will be moved on said planar surface of said film to and between said cylinder and hectograph liq uid master copy and said platen and will be imprinted from said master copy, said printing couple acting to strip said paper from said gelatin film as said belt makes a sharp turn about the smaller of said rollers.

9. The method of feeding a sheet of paper and printing the same by passing the same between a rotating cylinder bearing images in hectograph ink and a platen, which consists in moving an endless adhesive gelatin film in an endless path about spaced rollers, said film being.

of sufficient length to have a planar surface between said rollers, applying moisture to said gelatin film to increase its adhesive function, bringing a sheet of paper into contact with said planar surface of said film to dampen said paper, moving said paper with said film by the adhesive function of said film, abruptly changing the path of said endless gelatin film adjacent said cylinder to detach the leading edge of said paper from said gelatin film, moving said paper between said cylinder and platen to print said images on said sheet of paper and stripping said sheet of paper from said gelatin film by the engagement of said paper with said cylinder and platen.

FRED R. BARTHOLOMEW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

